Let's Walk Together!
Who are you walking for? The annual Walk in the Park (AWITP) event is back on Sunday 11 September at Perry Lakes Reserve, Floreat, and everybody is welcome to register and raise awareness and funds to support Parkinson’s WA.
Pictured: Town of Cambridge Mayor Keri Shannon with some Parkinson's Community members and CEO Brenda Matthews
Speaking to Jen who has been recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s, she said she was eager to attend her first Walk in the Park this September as Parkinson’s WA (PWA) delivered a service close to her heart.
“It was upon diagnosis that I was directed to PWA, an incredible organisation that provides support to those in WA living with Parkinson’s, and to their carers and families.”
Pictured: Community member Jen and her husband Ian
Jen joined the community members at Perry Lakes recently to meet with the Town of Cambridge Hon Mayor Keri Shannon and Labor Member for Nedlands Dr Katrina Stratton to discuss the upcoming walk. Having been newly diagnosed, Jen said she was still quite new to the Parkinson’s community.
“After being diagnosed, it was confusing and confronting, but I have since come to realise it is not the end of the world. [Parkinson’s] won’t take my life, but it will alter it. Things are different now – but it’s okay. I don’t have a life ending condition – I have a life changing condition. I am supremely grateful for this,” she said.
“I found it really refreshing to connect with the Parkinson’s community. I was initially concerned meeting other people with the condition, but for me it has been so affirming to hear other people’s stories. Connecting with other community members through an event like this is part of the benefit of having an organisation like PWA.”
Pictured: Community member Richard, his dog Astro and Parkinson’s WA CEO Brenda Matthews are preparing to attend the Annual Walk in the Park
Join more than 1000 community members as Parkinson’s WA hosts its biggest and most successful fundraiser where you will see some of Perth’s finest food trucks, live entertainment and activities for the children including a meet and greet with llamas. Bring your dog for the annual ‘best dressed pooch contest’ and enjoy the sunshine on this lovely spring day out by the lake.
This event raises essential funds for those affected by Parkinson’s in the WA community by contributing to the unique community-based Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist service, with a range of other assistance initiatives such as Seminars, Support Groups, Carers Groups and Counselling.
Parkinson’s WA Community member Raymond said he was looking forward to walking for the second time with his family to show their support for people living with Parkinson’s and the Specialist Nursing team.
“The walk is a good opportunity for family and friends to support us and to raise awareness about Parkinson’s. I would like my kids to join and support me this year. It’s good for family and friends to be included so the person with the condition is not left alone in the community,” he said.
Raymond said he was pleased to see the support of the Mayor from the Town of Cambridge and the Local Member of Parliament from Nedlands attend to take the time to speak with the community.
“It was great seeing the local council and parliament coming to meet with the community and support the cause. These are the movers and shakers of the system, and it is important for them to see the many faces of Parkinson’s in our community and for them to acknowledge that people living with the condition can be fit, active and valuable members of society.”
Pictured: Labor Member for Nedlands, Dr Katrina Stratton and her dog Millie
Labor Member for Nedlands Dr Katrina Stratton and her children will be joining the community for the Walk in its 12th year. Dr Stratton said it was important to walk with her family, especially knowing that exercise is one of the key ingredients for people to live well with Parkinson’s.
“Many neurological conditions are ‘hidden’ and by making more noise and creating more colour we open up the conversation, and when we open up the conversation, we create understanding and compassion,” she said.
The Hon Mayor Keri Shannon, Town of Cambridge said she was delighted to come and meet some of the community members in her local area at Perry Lakes.
“A Walk in the Park is a great opportunity for the community, and everyone across Perth, to come together and show their support for the great work of Parkinson’s WA and for people living with Parkinson’s,” she said.
“The benefits of being out and about in a location as wonderful as Perry Lakes Reserve is an added bonus. With it being a walking event, it’s easy for people of all ages to take part and complete the 2km or 5km course at their own pace.”
“The event is a symbolic way of saying to people living with Parkinson’s that the community is behind you and we value the work of Parkinson’s WA, which ranges from providing nurse specialists, support groups and counselling services. People walking together is a visual reminder of how we are all working towards the same goal of supporting each other.”
Gates open on Sunday September 11 at 9.30am with the 2km and 5km walks beginning at 11am. For those interested in joining in the fun, celebrating and supporting people with Parkinson’s, more information and registrations can be made by visiting the fundraising site or the Parkinson’s website.
Parkinson’s currently affects 100,000 Australians with 38 people being diagnosed every day. Globally, neurological disorders are the leading cause of disability and of these, Parkinson’s is the fastest-growing degenerative neurological condition with predictions citing that without a medical breakthrough, the number of Australians with Parkinson’s will double every fifteen years.
For more information about Parkinson’s WA call 6457 7373 or email info@parkinsonswa.org.au
Founded in 1984, Parkinson’s WA is the peak body and not-for-profit organisation that represents more than 20,000 Western Australian’s affected by Parkinson’s, their families and carers, clinicians and researchers.
The organisation offers a Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist Service and a variety of Support Networks for people with Parkinson’s and their family carers, as well as educational resources and training for allied health professionals.